Category: Top Story

The Watson Challenge Begins Play Friday

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LENEXA, Kan. – The 9th Watson Challenge will begin play at Mission Hills Country Club on June 12-14. The Watson Challenge offers the strongest field of amateur and professional golfers in the Kansas City area.

The Watson Challenge is an annual 54-hole golf championship held “To Determine the Best Golfer in the Greater Kansas City Golf Community.” The event has a 48-golfer field, consisting of the top PGA Club Professionals from the Midwest Section PGA, and the top amateurs living in the greater Kansas City golf community. Other players receive special invitations, which include Tom Watson, the Kansas City Junior Championship winner, the Club’s Host Golf Professional and reigning Club Champion.

In the eight year history of the Watson Challenge, there have only been four winners, including Blake Graham (2007), Joe Ida (2012), Robert Streb (2014), and Tom Watson (2008,09,10,11,13). The defending champion, Robert Streb, will not compete in the 2015 Watson Challenge, as Streb qualified to play in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington.

The 2015 Watson Challenge will be held at Mission Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kansas. Mission Hills Country Club is a challenging 6,455-yard, par 70 championship course. The club was established in 1912 and originally designed by Tom Bendelow. He wanted to take full advantage of its natural features. In 2007, Keith Foster, a golf architect, renovated the course and opened it to its members. Foster added a full sized driving range and improved the practice facilities at Mission Hills Country Club to give it the Championship venue appeal.

 

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORING OF THE 2015 WATSON CHALLENGE

 

Field set for the 2015 Watson Challenge

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LENEXA, Kan. – The 48-golfer field is set for the 2015 Watson Challenge at Mission Hills Country Club on June 12-14. Annually, Tom Watson gathers the best golfers in the Kansas City area for the three day event to determine who can truly claim the title ‘Best Golfer in the Greater Kansas City Golf Community.’

CLICK HERE for Round 1 Pairings.

CLICK HERE for ticket information.

Here is the field for this year’s Watson Challenge:

Doug Albers is making his ninth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Albers finished 25th in 2014. Albers played in the 2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur and the inaugural U.S. Four-Ball Championship.

Matt Barry is competing in his second Watson Challenge appearance. Barry teamed up with Colby Yates as they were crowned the 2014 Heart of America Champions.

Mike Boring is competing in his sixth Watson Challenge appearance. Boring competed in 2009,10,11,12 Watson Challenges. Boring is the PGA Teaching Pro at Shadow Glen. Boring tied for first in the Callaway 36-hole Stroke Play Championship.

Ryan Buerk is competing in his second straight Watson Challenge appearance. Buerk finished tied for 25th in 2014. Buerk qualified for the 2015 Watson Challenge at Prairie Highlands on May 28th.

Ryan Burchett is competing in his first Watson Challenge. Burchett is the PGA Golf Professional at Tiffany Greens Golf Club.

Brian Coe is competing in his first Watson Challenge. Coe is a PGA Professional at Kansas City Country Club.

Clay Devers is competing in his sixth Watson Challenge. Devers finished runner-up at the Watson Challenge in 2010. Devers competed on the PGA Tour in 1991 and 1996 and the Web.com Tour in 1993, 2002 and 2009.

Zac Dittmer is competing in his fourth consecutive Watson Challenge. Dittmer finished tied for sixth in 2014. Dittmer is also a back-to-back champion of the K.C. Amateur.

Alex Downing is making his first Watson Challenge appearance. Downing qualified for the 2014 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

Tyler Dunn is making his sixth Watson Challenge appearance. Dunn is the 2014 Midwest Section Player of the Year.

Clay Ederer is making his fourth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Ederer tied for 10th in 2013.

Travis Elliott is competing in his first Watson Challenge. Elliot placed third in the 2015 Watson Challenge Qualifier at Prairie Highlands Golf Course on May 28th.

Ryne Fisher is making his first Watson Challenge appearance. Fisher won the 2015 Kansas City Match Play Championship.

Preston Fleenor is making his second straight Watson Challenge appearance. Fleenor tied for ninth in 2014. Fleenor also won the 2012 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Lockton KC Junior.

Zac Gavlak is making his fifth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Gavlak finished tied for second with Tom Watson in 2014.

Michael Greene is making his fifth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Greene tied for 13th in 2014. Greene qualified for the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship and is the KCGA Amateur Player of the Year for 2014.

Steve Groom is competing in his ninth consecutive Watson Challenge. He finished tied for sixth in 2014. Groom also won the 2012 Kansas City Match Play Championship.

Larry Hadden is competing in his fourth Watson Challenge. Hadden finished tied for 26th in 2007. Hadden is a PGA Professional at Shawnee Golf and Country Club

Chase Hanna is competing in his second straight Watson Challenge. Hanna finished tied for ninth in 2014. He also won the 2013 Kansas Amateur Championship.

Chris Happ is competing in his fifth consecutive Watson Challenge. Happ finished tied for 11th in 2011. Happ is an Assistant Golf Professional at Mission Hills Country Club.

Joe Ida is competing in his fourth consecutive Watson Challenge. Ida is one of the four winners of the Watson Challenge as he won in 2012.

Connor Knabe is making his second Watson Challenge appearance. Knabe won the 2013 Kansas City Junior Championship.

Korbin Kuehn is making his second Watson Challenge appearance. Kuehn’s best finish is tied for 18th at the Watson Challenge.

Michael Letzig is making his second straight Watson Challenge appearance. Letzig won the 2002 Missouri Amateur, the 2003 New Mexico Open and spent three years on the PGA Tour.

Chris Mabry is making his ninth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Mabry tied for 11th in 2011. Mabry won the Kansas City Amateur in 2003.

Gary McClure is making his ninth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. McClure finished tied for 16th in 2008. He also qualified for the U.S. Senior Open in 2010.

Brent Mertz is making his third Watson Challenge appearance. Mertz finished tied for 29th in 2014. Mertz won the 2013 Stateline Amateur Tour Championship at Stone Canyon.

Matt Murdoch is making his seventh Watson Challenge appearance. Murdoch finished tied for eighth place in 2010. Murdoch is a PGA Professional in Mission Hills.

Bryan Norton is making his ninth consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Norton finished tied for third in 2013. Norton is a three time Kansas Amateur Champion and has played in numerous USGA Championships including a runner-up finishes at the U.S. Mid-Am and the U.S. Senior Am.

Eric Pahls is making his second consecutive Watson Challenge appearance. Pahls is a back-to-back Kansas City Junior Championship winner, giving him the exemption into the Watson Challenge.

Robert Russell is making his first appearance at the Watson Challenge. Russell is a certified professional at Shamrock Hills Golf Club and a UMKC Hall of Famer

Evan Scobie is competing in his first Watson Challenge. Scobie is a teaching professional at Kansas City Country Club.

Jeff Sedorcek is competing in his seventh consecutive Watson Challenge. Sedorcek tied for fourth in 2013. Sedorcek is PGA Professional at Fred Arbanas Golf Course.

Jeff Sheppard is competing in his eighth consecutive Watson Challenge. Sheppard tied for 24th in 2012. Sheppard is a PGA Professional at the Golf Club of Creekmor.

Kyle Smell is making his sixth Watson Challenge appearance. Smell is the 2012 Kansas Amateur Champion. Smell finished in fourth place in 2012.

Andrew Spencer is making his first Watson Challenge appearance. Spencer won the 2015 Kansas individual 6A state title.

Mike Tanner is competing in his sixth Watson Challenge appearance. Tanner tied for second in 2008. Tanner is a PGA Professional at the Overland Park Golf Course.

Mark Terranova is competing in his fourth Watson Challenge. Terranova finished tied for 32nd in 2014 and is the reigning KCGA Kansas City Masters champion.

Jon Troutman is making his sixth Watson Challenge appearance. Troutman finished tied for second with Gavlac and Watson in 2014.

Kevin Ward is making his second Watson Challenge appearance. Ward, who had an excellent career at the University of Kansas, qualified for the 2015 Watson Challenge on May 28th, shooting a 74 (+2) at Prairie Highlands.

Tom Watson is one of the greatest to ever play the game. His Hall of Fame career included five British Opens wins, two Masters titles, and one U.S. Open victory. Watson has won the Watson Challenge five times.

Josh Weems is making his second straight Watson Challenge appearance. Weems finished tied for ninth in 2014.

Rob Wilkin is competing in his ninth consecutive Watson Challenge. Wilkin tied for fourth place in 2011. Wilkins is the head golf professional at Heritage Park Golf Course. He played in numerous PGA Championships and PGA Tour events.

Cameron Wiltse is competing in his first Watson Challenge. Wiltse finished third in the 2014 Kansas Amateur.

Joseph Winslow is competing in his fifth Watson Challenge. Winslow finished in third place in 2012.

Colby Yates is competing in his first Watson Challenge. Barry and Yates were crowned the 2014 Heart of America Champions.

Curtis Yonke is making his fifth Watson Challenge appearance. Yonke finished tied for 16th in 2014.

Ryan Zech is making his fifth Watson Challenge appearance. Zech finished runner-up at the Watson Challenge in 2012.

Pahls is Back-to-Back Champion and McCurdy wins Girls Division

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OLATHE, Kan. – The 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship was held June 2-3 at Prairie Highlands Golf Course. There were two divisions competing in the event, the boys and the girls.

After a sun shining first round of the 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship, the second round started as scheduled. The morning round experienced a brief 40-minute weather delay as the storms rolling through Kansas City came in range of the course. After the delay, the golfers continued play for a few hours until another wave of storms hit Prairie Highlands. After a two delays, play continued for an hour before more lightning arrived in the area.

During the third weather delay, the decision was made for the boys division to cancel play as there would not be enough time to finish the round before sunset. Therefore the winner of the 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship was based on the first round’s 18-hole score, crowning Eric Pahls the back-to-back champion.

Pahls is given an invitation to compete in the 2015 Watson Challenge that will be held at Mission Hills Country Club on June 12-14.

Once the third weather delay cleared the area, the girl’s division continued play as there were six holes of play left. The future Northwest Missouri State Bearcat, Nikki McCurdy, pulled away with the lead, edging both Kaleigh Ashen and Caroline Klemp by one stroke. McCurdy fired 79 (+7) in the final round, posting 162 (+18). Ashen and Klemp both posted 163 (+19).

The final results can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=532

Grisham and Johnson Lead Girls; Pahls Leads Boys

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After what has seemed like weeks of endless rain, the sun finally came out for Round 1 of the 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship.

Prairie Highlands (Par 72) is the host of this year’s championship, and proved to be a tough test for the areas best juniors.

In the girl’s division, Hanna Johnson, of Warrenburg, MO and Madison Grisham, of St. Louis, MO will sleep on a first round lead. Both Johnson and Grisham fired 81’s, two strokes ahead of Caroline Klemp, Nikki McCurdy and Samantha Paulak. Teagan Noblit’s 85 put her in 5th place, while defending champion India Gaume and Kaleigh Ashen are tied for 6th with 86.

In the boy’s division, defending champion Eric Pahls posted the first score of the day, and it proved to also be the best score of the day. The only player in red figures, at -1, Pahls will enter round 2 with a two-shot lead over Aaron Lang. Andy Fain’s 74 puts him in third place, while Eric Larson and Tripp Walsworth lurk 5 shots back at 76.

Round 2 of the Kansas City Junior Championship will start at 7:30am tomorrow morning at Prairie Highlands.

For complete results and to follow tomorrow’s live scoring, CLICK HERE!!

2015 Prairie Invitational presented by Dr. J Douglas Cusick, Plastic Surgery

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LENEXA, Kan. – The Kansas City Golf Association is pleased to announce Dr. J Douglas Cusick, Plastic Surgery as the title sponsor for this year’s 2015 Prairie Invitational at Staley Farms Golf Club on June 30 – July 1.

The 2015 Prairie Invitational presented by Dr. J Douglas Cusick, Plastic Surgery is a premiere women’s event in Kansas City for both amateur and professional players. The invitational serves to enhance women’s golf and junior women’s golf in Kansas City and surrounding regions. It is formatted as a 36-hole stroke play championship that includes multiple divisions including an open division that will compete from the championship yardage and a separate players division that will compete in both gross and net scoring from the forward tees.

Dr. J Douglas Cusick’s Plastic Surgery practice is committed to providing the best possible care to all of their patients, keeping personal attention as the trademark for the practice. With there being so many options available to enhance your appearance, Dr. Cusick provides clear expectations about all procedures and outcomes.

To register to play in the event or for other sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Kansas City Golf Association at 913.649.5242 ext.2 or via email at Jacque@kcgolf.org.

Spencer, Buerk, Elliott and Ward Earn Spots in Watson Challenge

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The qualifier for the 2015 Watson Challenge was held today at Prairie Highlands Golf Course in Olathe, KS. The Prairie Highlands staff worked around the clock to get the golf course into playable condition for the 65 players who would vie for 4 qualifying spots.

Newly crowned Kansas 6A high school state champion Andy Spencer continued his run of great play by firing an even par 72 to take one spot. Recent Missouri Southern grad Ryan Buerk matched Spencer’s 72 and locked up a trip to Mission Hills.

Finishing just behind Spencer and Buerk was Travis Elliott. Elliot shot a 2-over 74.

Rounding out the qualifiers was former Kansas Jayhawk Kevin Ward. Ward shot 74 to lock up the final invitation.

The Watson Challenge will be played June 12th-14th at Mission Hills Country Club.

Complete results can be found be clicking here…

Fowler Punches Ticket to Senior Open

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The U.S. Senior Open Championship local qualifier took place at Loch Lloyd Country Club, Monday, May 18.  The 34-golfer field gathered from around the Midwest and three international golfers from Spain and New Zealand to compete for a spot in the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Peter Fowler shined as he posted a 67 (-4) to qualify for the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship in Sacramento, California, on June 22-28 at the Del Paso Country Club. Fowler, the 1983 Australian Open Champion fired a bogey-free round, including three birdies on the front nine and one on the back nine.

The first alternate for the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship is the runner-up Miguel Angel Martin of Spain who shot 68 (-3), including five-birdies.

The second alternate is Jeff Sheppard who posted 69 (-2), including five birdies on the day.

Results of the rest of the field can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=589

 

Booth Shines Through the Rain at Adams Pointe

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The third event of the 2015 Stateline Amateur Tour began Thursday, May 14, at Adams Pointe Golf Course in Blue Springs, Missouri.

The event began with a solid turnout of 71 players to battle non-stop rain and windy conditions throughout the morning until the weather lightened up in the afternoon.  There were five divisions competing in the Stateline Amateur Tour event including the open, players, senior, legends and women.

Frank Booth led the senior division posting a 72, even par, carding three birdies on the day.  Following Booth was Don Kuehn who fired 78 (+6).  Ernie Swart and Greg Loteckie both shot 79 (+7).

In the Legends division, Pat Goeke won the event shooting 75 (+3), edging the runners-up Jerry Reid and Jim Lodes who both posted a 76 (+4). Gary Noble finished fourth shooting 77 (+5).  Goeke carded two birdies on the day.  In the net competition, Pat Goeke won with a 66 (-6), followed by Mike Findley with 70 (-2) and Jim Lodes with 71 (-1).

In the Open Division, Dave Cunningham took the win with a 74 (+2), defeating the eight-golfer field.  Nicholas Rehmer finished second with 77 (+5) and Luke Lutgen in third at 78 (+6).  Cunningham played solid on the front nine shooting even par (36), but double bogeyed hole number 14.

The Players Division consisted of a 25-golfer field led by Jim Thompson who fired a 73 (+1) including five birdies on the day. Chris Meyer finished runner-up posting 76 (+4), followed by Doug Flint at 77 (+5) and Jeff Mott with 79 (+7). In the net competition, Jim Thompson won shooting 70 (-2), edging the runner-up Doug Flint by one-stroke 71 (-1).

Five women battled the rainy weather in the women’s division, which was led by Addie Chapin who posted 85 (+13), followed by Jettie Bezek at 86 (+14).

Final results for the Stateline Amateur Tour at Adams Pointe can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=538

The next Stateline Tour event is Tuesday, May 26 at The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate. The entry deadline is Tuesday, May 19.

 

Four Advance to Sectionals

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On a day that saw extremely difficult condition at Blue Hills Country Club, where the stroke average was 81.3, four players advanced to sectional qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

The medalist, Zechariah Potter was the only player that managed an even par score, carding a 72. Korbin Kuehn finished second with a 73, and Josh Weems and Curtis Yonke finished tied for third with 74’s.

Potter, Kuehn, Weems and Yonke will now go on to play in a 36 hole qualifier for the rite to play in the 2015 United States Open Championship.

For full results, click here….

Fisher wins the Kansas City Match Play

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The semifinals of the 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship action had a quick start as Ryne Fisher got off to an early lead over Steve Groom, going one up on the second hole.  Fisher maintained that through the front nine as he finished two up heading towards the back nine.  Steve Groom cut the lead to one up until Fisher caught fire, winning the 14th and 15th holes to defeat Groom 3 and 2 and advance to the finals.

The second match of the semifinals was Alex Springer vs. Hank Simpson.  Simpson got off to an early lead as he finished the front nine 4 up.  As the back nine started, Simpson extended his lead to 5 up on the 10th hole, but Springer made the match exciting as he won four holes heading into the 17th with Simpson two up.  Simpson and Springer halved the 17th hole, allowing Simpson to advance to the finals winning 2 and 1.

The final match of the 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship was between Ryne Fisher and Hank Simpson.  Fisher and Simpson were battling back and forth through the first six holes as Fisher was one up, before the two competitors had to wait an hour and a half for the storm to pass.  Fisher maintained a one hole lead through the back nine and they went to the 18th with the match still in the balance.  Both players found the left rough on 18, but Fisher was able to find the green with his approach.  Fisher’s par was good enough to lock up the championship, 2-up.

Thank you to all the participants and spectators for a great week!